Glossary

The glossary provides definitions for parliamentary terms to help you understand the Parliament and how it works. The terms are arranged alphabetically so select a letter to find the term you would like to have explained.

P

paid advocacy

When an elected member advocates or promotes a cause in return for payment or an other benefit.

Parliament

An assembly of representatives (generally elected).

Parliament Day

A public engagement event, introduced by the Presiding Officer in Session 4 that aims to take the Parliament out of Edinburgh and into communities, giving local people a snapshot of how the Parliament works. The event may include an external committee meeting or fact finding visits as well as networking and learning sessions. The day is an opportunity for the Presiding Officer, Members and officials to find out about local issues also.

Parliamentary Bureau

The body consisting of the Presiding Officer and a representative of each party or grouping that has at least 5 members.

parliamentary complex

All parts of the parliamentary building including its surrounding landscape and the paved area which belongs to the Parliament, as shown by the red line on the Parliament’s title plan.

parliamentary corporation

parliamentary duties

Any task or function an MSP could reasonably be expected to carry out in their capacity as a member of the Parliament.

parliamentary liaison officer (PLO)

A person appointed by the First Minister on a recommendation from Cabinet Ministers. A parliamentary liaison officer assists the Minister in discharging their duties. PLOs are unpaid and are not part of the Executive. Their role and the arrangements for their appointment are set out in paragraphs 4.6 - 4.13 of the Scottish ministerial code. The functions of PLOs are broadly similar to those of parliamentary private secretaries at Westminster.

parliamentary privilege

See privilege.

parliamentary question (PQ)

One means by which MSPs can seek information or explanation from Ministers (and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body). Questions can be for oral or written answer, and are governed by chapter 13 of the Standing Orders and the detailed guidance published by the clerks.

parliamentary recess

See recess.

parliamentary week

See normal parliamentary week.

parliamentary year

A period, normally of 12 months, beginning on the date of the first meeting of the Parliament following a general election, and on each subsequent anniversary of that date within that session.

party representatives

Members of the Parliamentary Bureau representing parties with 5 or more members in the Parliament.

passage of a bill

The process through which a bill passes from introduction to royal assent.

passing (of a bill)

When a bill is approved by the Parliament at the end of Stage 3 (or, Final Stage consideration).

personal statement

A statement made by any MSP at a meeting of the Parliament, such as a public apology.

petition

See public petition.

plenary

A meeting of the Parliament.

point of order

An intervention by an MSP during parliamentary proceedings, questioning whether proper procedures have been followed or are being followed.

policy memorandum

A document accompanying an Executive or member's bill which sets out the policy objectives of the bill.

Portfolio Question

See Portfolio Question Time

Portfolio Question Time

A period of time each week when MSPs ask questions of the Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers on specified portfolios such as education and justice. The portfolio varies each week on a rota basis.

pre-commencement enactment

Primarily an enactment passed by the UK Parliament before, or in the same session as, the Scotland Act 1998.

pre-emption

When agreement to an amendment to a bill or motion means that another amendment can no longer be taken.

Preliminary Stage

The stage when a private bill’s general principles are considered.

prerogative

The residual, but often very important, powers of the sovereign, most of which are, in practice, exercised by Ministers on behalf of Her Majesty. Within the area of devolved competence, such powers are exercisable by Scottish Ministers (section 53, Scotland Act).

Presiding Officer (PO)

The MSP elected to chair meetings of the Parliament, the Parliamentary Bureau and the SPCB and to represent the Parliament externally.

Presiding Officers Office

The office providing advice and support to the Presiding Officer and his or her deputies.

Presiding Officers statement on legislative competence

A written statement by the Presiding Officer indicating whether or not, in his or her view, the provisions of a bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament. Such a statement is an accompanying document on the introduction of a bill (section 31, Scotland Act 1998; Standing Orders rules 9.3 and 9A.2.2).

primary legislation

Statutes enacted by a body with legislative powers, primarily Acts.

principal accountable officer

See accountable officer.

principal appointed day

See D-Day.

principles

See key principles.

private bill

A bill introduced by a person or body (the promoter) for the purpose of obtaining particular powers or benefits in excess of or in conflict with the general law, including any bill relating to the personal affairs or circumstances of the promoter. The legislative procedure for private bills is set out in chapter 9A of the Standing Orders.

private bill committee

Any committee of the Parliament that is established to consider a private bill.

privilege

The areas of legal protection or immunity vested by legislation in the Parliament, its members, or officials.

Privy Council

A body which, in the past, exercised much of the executive power of the sovereign, and which nowadays has a number of residual functions. These include the making of orders in council, aspects of the regulation of certain professions and universities and the granting of royal charters. For devolution purposes, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has an important role as a court in adjudicating on devolution issues.

proceedings of the Parliament

An important procedural and legal concept, not exhaustively defined in the legislation or the Standing Orders, although some guidance as to the sorts of proceedings which would be included is contained in the Presiding Officer’s guidance on ‘parliamentary privilege’ (Business Bulletin 38/1999) Examples include voting, lodging notices of motions and questions, and participating in debates in the Parliament or its committees.

proclamation

A declaration by the sovereign that has legal effect.

Procurement Office

The office responsible for purchasing all goods and services for the Parliament.

promoter

The person or body (not an MSP) who introduces a Private Bill.

promoter's agreement

An agreement or agreements relating to the copyright and licensing of a bill to the parliamentary corporation and some of the related documents. It constitutes one of the accompanying documents of a private bill.

promoter's memorandum

One of the accompanying documents of a private bill. The promoter’s memorandum sets out the bill’s objectives, any consideration of alternative ways of meeting those objectives and any consultation that was carried out.

promoter's statement

One of the accompanying documents of a private bill. The promoter’s statement sets out: details of any required notifications, advertisements and consents as determined by the Presiding Officer. It also gives the locations where the accompanying documents and other relevant documents can be inspected and purchased; and an undertaking to pay the required fees for introduction.

proposal for committee bill

The report published by a committee containing the proposal for a bill it wishes to introduce.

proposal for member's bill

A member who wishes to introduce a member’s bill must first lodge a notice of a proposal for such a bill. The member is then required either to consult on the proposal or to secure the agreement of the committee considering the proposal that consultation is not necessary. This is followed by the member lodging a final proposal for the bill, which need not be in identical terms. If, within one month, 18 other members from at least half of the parties represented in the Bureau have supported it, the member may introduce a bill to give effect to the final proposal in accordance with conditions laid out in the Standing Orders, section 9.14.

Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee

A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 9 members, the remit of which is to consider and report on the following (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A)—

(a) any accounts laid before the Parliament;

(b) any report laid before or made to the Parliament by the Auditor General for Scotland; and

(c) any other document laid before the Parliament, or referred to it by the Parliamentary Bureau or by the Auditor General for Scotland, concerning financial control, accounting and auditing in relation to public expenditure.

(d) post-legislative scrutiny

Name changed from Public Audit Committee to Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee on 29 September 2016. The committee must be established within 42 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election.

public bill

A bill which proposes to change the law as it applies generally across the country.

Public Bodies Act consent memorandum

A memorandum in relation to any Public Bodies Act order, made under sections 1 to 5 of the Public Bodies Act 2011, which would fall within the Scottish Parliament’s legislative competence. See also Public Bodies Act consent motion.

Public Bodies Act consent motion

A motion seeking the Parliament’s consent to a Public Bodies Act order, made under sections 1 to 5 of the Public Bodies Act 2011, which would fall within the Scottish Parliament’s legislative competence.

public expenditure

For the purposes of the Standing Orders (including the remit of the Finance Committee), public expenditure means the expenditure of the Scottish Administration and other expenditure payable out of the Scottish consolidated fund or met out of taxes, charges and other public revenue.

Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000

The Act of the Scottish Parliament which deals with the public financial, budgeting, accounting and auditing procedures and practices of the Scottish Ministers and bodies supported from the Scottish consolidated fund, and with their scrutiny by the Parliament.

Public Information and Resources

The team within the Research, Communications and Public Engagement Group that provides an enquiry service for the public and manages print and electronic publishing requirements for Scottish Parliament publications, including use of the corporate identity.

Public Petitions Committee

A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 7 members, the remit of which is to consider public petitions addressed to the Parliament in accordance with these Rules (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A) and, in particular, to—

(a) decide in a case of dispute whether a petition is admissible; (b) decide what action should be taken upon an admissible public petition; and (c) keep under review the operation of the petitions system.

The committee must be established within 42 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election.

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